Method of loosening vegetable fibers



Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

JOHN BILLWILLER, OF S EEKAUSEN, GERMANY.

amnion or LOOSENING vnoaramnrmaas.

Ro Drawing. Application filed September 11, 1922,

The object of tion of cellulose the invention is the producfiber formaking paper an paper-like products, and the invention consists in theloosenin of the fibers by acting on the cementing su ances that holdthem together by the aid of liquids that carbonize or injure the fiberas little as possible, and preferably at a temperature as high aspossible without carbonizing the fibers.

The action of .the loosening liquids employed, that is, their intensityof action, is more or less dependent on the extent ofionization, andtherefore lated to that desired by changing the degree of ionization bydilution with water.

The loosening liquids that I use are concentrated solutions of ammoniumhydroxide, saturated solutions of sodium carbonate, or sulphurettedhydrogen, and the like.

The method is. carried out in such a way that the'loosening liquids arecausedvto entirely cover or wash over and around the fibrous substancesvigorously. In a few minutes there is attained either a completeloosening of the fibers, or a partial loosening, according to the degreeof concentration of the loosening solution used.

The full details of the method are described as follows:

centrated solution of. ammonium hydroxide in a superheated condition iscaused to circulate through the cellulose material in a closedcontainer, as an autoclave, a digester or the like. The circulationis'conducted by a centrifugal or other type of circulating pump capableof operating under the pressure prevailing in the container. I

The substances treated may be of difierent origin such as wood,flax-straw, bran an other materials, all of which are loosenedexcellently, by this method. Furthermore, the linseed oil may be simplyand. completely recovere I The temperature may be raised to nearly 28 C.without materially chan ing the color of the fibers or materially carnizing the cellular substance. atures of at least 180 0., that is, abovepheres and over.

The further operation on the cellulose material' may be carried out byany of the well known processes for-obtaining cellulose or the effectmay be regu- The loosening liquid, for instance a conp I operate attemperp 179 6., and so usingpressures of 18 atmosp 'makm cattle food, asa preliminary treat- Serial No. 587,576, and in Switzerland m 13, 1922.

fiber for the manufacture of textiles and pa er.

t has proven advantageous in many cases to accomplish the loosenin-g andseparation of the fibers in two phases. In the first phase, thehydroxide of ammonia or other llquids having ca-rbonizing action arecaused to act slowly on the cellulose material or raw I fibroussubstances to partially loosen the fibers at a high temperature and athigh pressure. After this preliminary treatment, the loosening orseparation is completed accordmg to some one of the well-known methods.Experiments have shown that all fiber yielding materials may bepreliminarily treated in the manner described, and then the separationof the fiber completed by the customary sulphite or soda process. Thelooseningor separation of the fibers in two phases can be united byemploying quantities of solutions of ammonium hydroxide of any desiredconcentration mixed with liquids that have been used before, and inaccordance with the material to be treated. Furthermore, experimentshave shown that the separation or loosening of the fibers of any kind isfacilitated by catalysts. Such catalysts, for instance, copper,'nickeland iron, that hasten the reactions, maybe laced either in the vesselsor apparatus used for the loosening or digestion of the material to betreated, or the'vessels or apparatus when made or lined with such metalsmay themselves act as the catalyst.

Example.

I 50Q kg. of wood and 3001. of a two percent solution of ammoniumhydroxide heated to 280, C. are placed in an iron vessel capable d ofstanding the desired pressure. By means of a centrifugal pump the hotsolution is umped over the wood for ten minutes.

After draining oil theammonium hydroxide solution, the completelyloosened fibers may be further treated in any desired manner. I

The process is rocesses for similar purpose general ap lication, forexample, for textile urposes, or the manufacture of paper, for

distinguished from other ment or the formation of sugar from cellulosematerials etc.

Myiprocess is also advantageous by reason by its very I carried out withregar tions, and because the liquids used may be the spent liquors aresuitable for fermentachamber at a tion and for use as I:claim .1. Theart of treating fibrous materials containing carbo-hydrates and similar'substances, which comprises subjecting the material for less thanhaltan hour in a clo:ed temperature above 179 C. and the correspondingpressures to a solution that loosens the fibers and acts but slowly todiscolor them.

2. The art of treating fibrous materials containing carbo-hydrates andsimilarsubfertilizing material. 1

stance? Which comprises subjecting the ma-' terial or a short time (lessthan half an hour) in a closed chamber at 'a temperature above 180 0.,and correspondingpressures to the action of a solution that loosens thefibers and discolors them but slowly While pumping the solutioncontinuously through the fibers.

3. The art of treating fibrous materials,

which comprises subjecting the material to Y a preliminary treatment fora short time in a closed chamber at a temperature above 179 C, and thecorresponding pressure to the action of a solution capable of looseningthe fibers and which solution acts to discolor the fibers slowly at thetemperature and corresponding pressure used, and then treating thematerial with ening solution at and pressure.

"-4. The art of treating fibrous material, which comprises subjectingthe material in a :closed chamber to an ammonium hydroxany well knownfiber looside solution at a temperature of at least 180 C. and thecorresponding pressure and thereafter treating the material with asulphite solution at the customary temperature and pressure.

5.- Method of treating fibrous material,

whichhcomprises subjecting the material in In testimony that I claim theforegoing as my invention, I have signed my name.

o ING-J0 HN BILLWILLER.

the customary temperature

